Alfonso Fanjul and his family have been recognized by the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau as the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) 2016 Farm Family of the Year. The award was presented on November 9 by John L. Hundley, Chairman of the Board of the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, at Ray’s Heritage Packing House in Belle Glade.

The award is given to farm families who exhibit excellence in their commitment to agriculture and civic engagement in the Glades region of western Palm Beach County, where the Fanjul family has been farming since 1960.

The family’s companies, Fanjul Corp. and Florida Crystals Corporation, produce sugarcane, rice and sweetcorn, and they are a longtime source of support for families in the Glades communities. The Everglades Agricultural Area is among the world’s most productive and sustainable agricultural basins. In addition to providing thousands of jobs for EAA farmers, the Fanjul family has been an integral part of the Glades community for decades through their charitable support, particularly their efforts to improve access to high-quality education and to reduce hunger.

“The Fanjul family is one of the premier Florida farming families,” said Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, who attended the award ceremony. “They have a wonderful story. They came over here. They started over. They grow millions and millions of pounds of food that service or help people all across our country and they deserve recognition.”

The Fanjuls founded New Hope Charities, a grassroots nonprofit that provides services for children and families in western Palm Beach County ranging from daycare and health care to food distribution. The Fanjul family also founded two charter schools in Pahokee, Everglades Preparatory Academy and Glades Academy, to increase educational opportunities for families in the Glades.

“We’re really humbled,” said Andres Fanjul upon receiving the award, echoing the sentiments of the rest of the Fanjul family. “It’s an incredible opportunity. When I read all the families that have won this award in the past, it’s an honor to be included as part of that group.”

Alfonso Fanjul and wife and Raysa Fanjul were honorary chairman and chairwoman at the recent “Evening of Vision” event that drew more than 200 supporters.

The 35th annual dinner and dance benefits the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Alfonso Fanjul and his company Florida Crystals have a long commitment to supporting the eye center, which is part of the University of Miami health system.

The Fanjul family, owners of Florida Crystals Corporation, have pledged a $1 million gift to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, part of the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.

Alfonso Fanjul, chairman and chief executive officer of Florida Crystals and University of Miami trustee, said, “Having benefited first-hand from the extraordinary skill of Bascom Palmer’s physicians, my family and I feel fortunate to be able to assist in the advancement of the institute’s research to aid our community.”

The donation will be used to help create Bascom Palmer’s Clinical Research Center on its campus in Palm Beach Gardens. The 21,000 sq. ft. Research Center, scheduled to open in 2013, will house retinal, corneal and glaucoma research units, extensive ophthalmic imaging and diagnostic equipment, an ocular microbiology laboratory and patient examination rooms. It will also provide greater access to clinical trials for Palm Beach County and Martin County residents.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Bascom Palmer Eye Institute the best eye hospital in the nation.

“Alfonso Fanjul’s interest in vision and technology is a natural fit for the cutting edge work Bascom Palmer’s world class physicians and scientists will conduct in the new Research Center,” said Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D., chairman of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. “Using the tools of 21st century medicine, this generous gift will help us try to understand why the eye may become susceptible to disease and how new biotechnologies may help to prevent resulting vision loss.”

Research conducted at the new center will enhance the Institute’s strong research portfolio and will benefit a growing number of ophthalmology patients with all types of eye diseases and disorders.

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute opened its Palm Beach Gardens’ campus in 2006, bringing to Palm Beach County the most technologically advanced eye care center in the United States. In recognition of the Fanjul family’s gift, the reception of the Clinical Research Building at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at Palm Beach Gardens will be named the “Florida Crystals Corporation Lobby.”

Florida Crystals Corporation is a leading, fully integrated cane sugar company that farms 187,000 acres in Palm Beach County, Fla., where it also owns two sugar mills, a sugar refinery, a packaging and distribution center, a rice mill and the largest renewable power plant in North America. Its renewable energy facility delivers clean power to its sugar operations and tens of thousands of homes. Florida Crystals is the only producer of certified organic sugar grown and harvested in the USA and the only producer certified CarbonFree® sugar, meaning its products have a carbon neutral footprint. Florida Crystals, with its subsidiary, American Sugar Refining, Inc., is the world’s largest cane sugar refining company, owns and operates sugar refineries in six countries worldwide. Its products are marketed through its brand portfolio: Domino®, C&H®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle® and Florida Crystals®.

Florida Crystals, a Fanjul Corp. company, is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Fla. and is led by Alfonso Fanjul and J. Pepe Fanjul.